Flexibility Seen in Iraq’s Stance on Inspections

Diplomats in Iraq said Thursday that the Iraqi leadership appeared to be showing some flexibility in an attempt to find a solution to its impasse with the United Nations over arms inspections.

The diplomats said Iraq’s announcement that it would allow a team from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency to carry out routine inspections could be intended to increase pressure on the United States and Britain to find an acceptable solution to a standoff between Baghdad and the world body over a wider resumption of arms inspections in Iraq.

Baghdad’s “position can be changed if it sees some signs of softening from the opposite party,” one diplomat said.

The U.S. and Britain want Iraq to accept a U.N. resolution adopted Dec. 17 that calls for sending arms inspectors back to the country and an easing of sanctions if Baghdad cooperates with a new disarmament agency. Baghdad has rejected the resolution.